Derrick Pitts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Derrick Pitts
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Oct 2016
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| Born | January 22, 1954 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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| Alma mater | Germantown Academy St. Lawrence University |
| Awards | Alumni Award |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Astronomy, Science Communication |
| Institutions | Franklin Institute |
Derrick Pitts, born on January 22, 1955, is an American astronomer. He is also a great science communicator, meaning he helps people understand science. He studied at St. Lawrence University. Since 1978, he has worked at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. There, he is the main astronomer and leads the Fels Planetarium. Derrick Pitts often appears on TV and radio. He loves to explain astronomy and share his excitement for science with everyone.
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Early Life and Learning
Derrick Pitts was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 22, 1955. When he was a young child, he was very interested in space travel and astronomy. He was amazed by how science could figure out reliable information about objects far away in space.
He learned that by carefully looking at light, scientists could discover many things. This was true even for objects that were very, very far away. This idea made him look "into the sky with a totally different understanding." He attended Germantown Academy from 1969 to 1974. He was the second African-American student to enroll there. Pitts graduated from St. Lawrence University in 1978 with a degree in geology.
Working at the Franklin Institute
Derrick Pitts has been at the Franklin Institute since he was a college student. He is the institute's chief astronomer. He also produces shows for the institute's Fels Planetarium. He is a well-known public figure for the institute.
His job includes designing and presenting exhibits and public programs. His main goal is to create "content, exhibits, and programs." These help translate complex science topics into ideas that people of all ages can understand.
Derrick Pitts's View on Science
Derrick Pitts believes that "Science is really questioning what you see." He says that "the essence of science is looking. You have to look." Pitts thinks that science is not just found in a planetarium or museum. He says it is everywhere, just like gravity. He often uses the slogan: "Eat, breathe, do science. Sleep later." This means science is a part of everything we do.
Media and Public Appearances
Derrick Pitts has been on many television shows. These include The Colbert Report, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, and Countdown with Keith Olbermann. Since 1991, he has co-hosted a weekly radio show called Skytalk. This show is on WHYY-FM in Philadelphia.
He narrated a concert called "2001: A Space Odyssey" at the Mann Center for the Performing Arts. This event honored astronaut Guion Bluford Jr., who was also from Philadelphia. Pitts was a science advisor and host for PBS's "The Great Comet Crash." He was also a guest scientist for "Newton's Apple" and a science expert for "Kid's Corner."
In January 2022, Pitts started hosting a web series. It is called "A Practical Guide to the Cosmos" for The Franklin Institute. He hosts it with actor and TikToker Kalpana Pot. The series explores topics like exoplanets, galaxies, black holes, and space missions. It also teaches how to spot celestial bodies and astronomical events in the night sky.
Awards and Recognition
Derrick Pitts has received many awards and honors. He was named a NASA Solar System Ambassador. He also received honorary Doctor of Science degrees from La Salle University and Rowan University. He was given the Mayor's Liberty Bell award.
He also received the St. Lawrence University Distinguished Alumni Award. Other honors include the G. W. Carver Medal and the Please Touch Museum's "Great Friend To Kids" Award. In 2004, he was chosen as one of the "50 Most Important Blacks in Research Science" by Science Spectrum Magazine. He received the 2010 David Rittenhouse Award from LaSalle University in 2011.
Personal Life
Derrick Pitts is a talented a cappella singer. He sang in a barbershop quartet in high school. In college, he enjoyed madrigal singing. As of 2020, he lived in Philadelphia with his wife, Linda.
